And All God's People Said Amen

For those not familiar with an Anglican Service there are four Scripture readings prior to the Message: Today's assigned readings are: Isaiah 40:21-31; Psalm 147; 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 and Mark 1:29-39 (Parallel Verse is Luke 4:38-44)

A Pastor had a conversation .... concerning Sunday morning worship. with some of the parish members.

Each of them.... shared.... his or her favorite part of the service.

One person said it was the Nicene Creed, because..... it was at that moment .....that he was able .....to stand up .....and declare his faith.

Another said it was the Music.... the songs and hymns .....deeply moved her.

One elderly lady said it was the Liturgy.... She shared..... it meant so much to her.... To know that we followed the same worship structure....as that of the early Church.

Another person said it was the prelude.

The pastor looked at the person and was somewhat taken aback.

"The Prelude .... Don't you mean the Sermon "Oh no, pastor.

It's definitely the prelude." (Pause)

When asked what made the prelude so meaningful,.....he said ...... his whole week is always so full, .....so busy, ..... so intense.

But when he enters the Sanctuary .....and the prelude began, .....it is the only time all week.... that he could just .....sit back, ...be quiet, ....and experience the presence of the Lord.

Most of us ....are simply too busy each... or make ourselves too busy......... to stop .....to relax .... to be still before the Lord....for even a few moments.

Most feel ....as if they ....need to be active .....every minute of the day.

We confuse busyness ...with being productive, with being successful, ...efficient, ...to being meaningful.

We find in our Gospel text .....that Jesus too, ..... was busy ......with life.

Yet, .....in the midst of this busyness, .....He finds time .....he makes time .....to find a solitary place ....to pray.

A Quiet time ......a time alone..... with the Father.

Most of us feel ....as if we need to be busy.... To be doing something.... All of the time.

And for some reason,..... prayer for many..... just does not feel "busy" ......or "active" enough.

We are a people...... a society .....in which being busy ...makes us feel ..... worthwhile. (Pause)

A generation or two ago, ..... washing the family's laundry .....literally took .....an entire day.

People referred to .....that one day .....of this weekly routine ....as .....wash day.

Then technology came through .....with the invention .....of the washing machine.

You could throw the clothing into this marvelous new machine, ...... leave it there .....and go do something else.

What a time saver!

So what happened?

Did we end up ....with more time to relax... with more quiet time?

No, ...we filled our time ....with other duties.... With other busyness. (Pause)

The invention of the computer ....had a similar effect.

It enabled us ....to work ......so much faster.

But did we find more free time.... More quiet time?

No..... We simply .....filled that time..... with other duties.... With more busyness.

Many .....seem to fear the quiet.... Even in their free time..... They will have a Radio or the Television in the background.

They need noise..... It seems they fear the quiet.

It seems .....There is something within us ......that compels us..... to fill up every moment .....With noise or with busyness.

It's as if ....our fleshly self .....is fearful... of what might happen ....if we would just.... be still .....to be quiet.....before God.

I am convinced .....that many... even those who call themselves follower of the Christ..... have almost lost the ability .....To be quiet.... to be spiritual .....To be still before the Lord.

The Scriptures state this command to all believers: "Be still.....(Be still).....and know ...that I am God."

Be still .....it is a command.

In our Gospel Reading from Mark, ....Jesus too ....is very busy.

In fact, .....Mark's Gospel .....might be the Gospel most compatible ..... with the 21st Century.

Why?.... Because Mark gives the impression .....that everyone is in a hurry ... Everyone is so busy.

In fact....The word ...."immediately" ....appears over 50 times ....in Mark's ....short Gospel.

As hurried and busy .....as life was at that time.... Jesus made it a priority.... To be in the prescience of the father.....To be in prayer... with the Father.

Our Text states: BIBLE "In the morning, ....while it was still very dark, ...Jesus got up, ...left the house ....and went out to a deserted ....solitary place, ...and there ...he prayed." END

Even in the midst of the fast paced, ....and meaningful ministry of Jesus, ......he would retreat .....to a quiet, ...solitary place.... for reflection, meditation,.... prayer ....in communion ....with the Father.

Beloved .....We must.... We must take time .....We must make time ....to be in prayer... in communion ....with our Lord.

It is a necessity .... in our hurried .....and busy lives.